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Sunday, July 11, 2010

trying

...would you like a peek at what i've been doing? taking the advice of a friend much wiser than me, i said yes to a job (a very small one) and let go of fear. i also found out my finger is not broken (are you sure?? it's sure hurts like it!) so i've decided to just watch it for a while and baby it too (instead of cortisone and the hand dr... ) and thank you for all your sweet thoughts and wishes they went a long way towards helping me to feel better...

this is the start, there's more to do for each paddle. i agreed to paint something on these paddles for the city i live in. my first paid art job! i only have watercolors, colored pencils and pen and ink, which i don't think would have taken to the wood. so i bought some inexpensive acrylics in a dozen colors and have found them SO much fun! they blend really well, dry quickly and are very forgiving. why has it taken me so long to discover these? i guess i worried about toxic fumes, is there any reason to worry?

the paddles are going to this city program, the carpinteria jr. lifeguards! they need to be done by friday when the kids have their first competition, these will be awarded to the first, second and third place teams. i'll take a photo of the paddles when their finished ( if i like them) hehe...

They're brilliant Lori :)that's fun and i understand your hesitation, but now that your doing it all is well.

about the fumes.... treat all paint as being toxic whether it has an odour or not... just use it with care and if you are really concerned then wear a lightweight mask. Always wash your hands afterwards.It won't do you any harm as long as you don't eat it and paint yourself... :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~jeri, i like that, yyesss! i'll try to remember, unless they turn out awful.haha.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~lizzy, i hope so much your right, and thank you very much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~sammi, even if this is it,it really has been fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~natsy, thank you my dear (we'll see) :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~mim, thank you. every year the city does this for the jr. lifeguard program, the paddles go to the home teams boathouse. it is nice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ces, thank you very much, this was not an easy post to do, i really apprieciate your words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~rosaria, especially if they win 1st,2nd or 3rd! thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~michelle, it's just a small bit, but i'm happy. and for me getting past this fear is big. thank you so much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~robyn, oh thank you. do you have the same program there? it's fantastic for children that live near the ocean. i'm going to take your advice and eat before painting ;).thank you love.

i'm excited to see the finished paddles. and just so you know, here on my desk, i have this amazing illustration on a brown paper bag with words:'grey smooth settled stones balanced sun sky earth one always falls down it's okay' and i'm thinking i should have paid the wonderful artist for it so i would have been her first paying customer in what is going to be a long successful career in painting and snapping and drawing and writing.

Hi Lori, that is very exciting and the best part is that you love doing it even though you might have been a bit fearful to start. Enjoy painting and they look wonderful already!Can't wait to see them finished!

I love these Lori!! Don't forget to seal/protect them with an acrylic (waterbase) varnish ;)

I painted in oils for a brief time. Once I became a cancer survivor I switched to acrylics. All colors are toxic, especially the reds and blues. I've had my share of ingesting some because I forget and stick my brushes in my mouth for a sharp point!! Duh.

I use...hold on, the acrylics in bottles found at craft stores! I'm done mixing from tubes. I still blend my own colors, but the bottles are such a perfect consistency and they come in a million shades. I even do my huge outdoor murals with them!When I come across "art snobs" I defend myself by saying it doesn't matter what meduim you use. If you make art from your heart who cares if you used Crayola's or the finest oils?The kids will LOVE these paddles. I do!!

yay on your finger not being broken, but boo-hoo that it still hurts :(

Lori, this is my offical last comment for a while as I am on my way to Oregon, these are wonderful and like Kj said they are smiling :-) and like Lo said, varnish.It reminds me, my first paid art job was painting cats and flowers on garbage cans for condos :-).Happy week.xoxo

Lori, my angel! Those are bea-oooo-tiful. I would like one just to hang on the wall.

On a more serious note, thank you for your visit to my rather somber blog last week. In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It then bursts into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be deeply thankful for those people who rekindle our inner spirit. And I am – so very thankful for the gentle and generous words you wrote for me on my ‘Stormy Weather’ post. Friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine – and almost always because of friends. I’d love to send you a linocut I made to thank you and to celebrate the very special friendships we are able to create around the world via this amazing blogosphere. You are so special, golden Lori. I feel I have neglected you so badly lately, but I do come visit silently, so I am here whenever I can be.

Amanda, oh haha! we were commenting at the same time! thank you so much for saying such kind words. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and time with your family, I thought of you, and with a big smile too. xoxo

Hi Sally!ah no, the finger is not cooperating, but it's staying clearly out of the way, so i can paint and knit at least. Today i tried digging in the garden and thought twice. thank you for the kindness.

How wonderful to use your gifts! I have had urgings from friends and family to do the same.I am sure you will be blessed by it.thank you for your kind words you left in a comment at my blog. I am looking forward to reading yours.Warm wishes, Tonya

Lori thank you so much for helping with the kids in Nepal. I know they will be so tickled to receive your package. When is your birthday? I'm sending you some earrings from our blog our website. Let me know what you like. Peace.

O my gosh how special this is!!!!!What a beautiful award they will get!And congrats on your first (paid) art job, they are the best.I would not worry about the fumes from acrylic paint, I think you inhale more toxic things by crossing the street in the city.........Isn't it great to discover fun things?! I love this feeling!

O my gosh how special this is!!!!!What a beautiful award they will get!And congrats on your first (paid) art job, they are the best.I would not worry about the fumes from acrylic paint, I think you inhale more toxic things by crossing the street in the city.........Isn't it great to discover fun things?! I love this feeling!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jennifer, i wrote you. It is my pleasure, i want to thank you again for letting us know how.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~nancy, thank you so much! i hope so :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~marianne,that really makes me happy coming from you, i love your art. you are so sweet and i thank you so much! yes! new things are exciting! and fun when i stop worrying about the outcome!

Sorry I've missed some posts. I haven't been the best blogger this summer. Ooooh! Love the paddles. Very cool! Congrats on them being your first paid art job.....not the last!!I hope all is well at your end of the world and I hope Owen is doing great!!xo

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May the Moon softly restore you by night.
May the Rain wash away your worries.
May the Breeze blow new strength into your being.
May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.
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